Norma D. Roots.
– Norma D. Roots 93, of Paso Robles, passed away on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, at her assisted Living home. She was known for her kindness and compassion, love and loyalty to her family and friends.
Norma was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, where she lived with her mother, father, and two sisters. She also had a brother who grew up in Norway. In 1952, Norma and her parents moved to California, where her sister Lillian was already living. They settled in the San Fernando Valley. A couple of years later, Norma met Robert Roots at a New Year’s Eve party. After a whirlwind romance, Bob and Norma married eight months later, on August 27, 1955. They raised three children, and were married for 66 years, until Bob’s death in May of 2022.
Norma was working at a bank when she met Bob. She enjoyed making her own money and bought a new 1955 Chevy Bel-Air right off the showroom floor. When the kids were a little older, she started working in real estate. Norma always said that her biggest accomplishment was marrying Bob and raising her three children. She was also proud to become a US citizen on June 23, 1967.
Norma was a great cook and had dozens of cookbooks. She was famous at the neighborhood potlucks, for her delicious chicken dishes, lasagna, spaghetti and meatballs, cheesecake, and Tex-Mex dip. Her husband Bob was a fireman, and often had four days off in row, so they would do a lot of mini-camping trips, usually at Carpinteria Beach in their little trailer. They were an adventurous couple and visited numerous national and state parks. They also did road trips across the country and to Baja, usually with the kids and the dogs in tow.
Norma loved to travel just with Bob as well. She especially loved cruising to exotic ports of call and traveled overseas to Europe and Norway as well. They went on a fall foliage tour back east and visited her hometown in Canada.
Bob and Norma moved to SLO County in 1981, building their house on 10 acres of land in the countryside. They planted a small vineyard on their property and enjoyed making homemade wine. They joined a local winemaking club and had an active social life. Norma loved to entertain and had numerous parties and gatherings, both in Paso and when she lived in Southern California. Many of Norma’s family and extended family eventually moved to Paso Robles, so she hosted a lot of family gatherings as well. She so enjoyed having her children, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren nearby.
Norma loved animals, and cared for several feral cats on her property, getting them fixed, and giving them a warm place to sleep on her porch and in her barn. She also had her own dogs and cats over the years, who she loved fiercely.
Norma will be greatly missed by her children, Karen Roots, Andrew Roots, and Nancy (Scott) Wilhite, her grandchildren Christopher O’Keefe, Patrick O’Keefe, and John Wilhite. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob Roots, her parents Ole and Linnea, and siblings Silvia, Lillian, and Erling. A celebration of life will be held in the future. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in her name to Woods Humane Society, North County Paws Cause, Meade Canine Rescu,e or Pacific Wildlife Care.
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